Tim Cook
“You want to be the pebble in the pond that creates the ripple for change.”
Born on November 1, 1960, Tim Cook was hand-picked by Steve Jobs to lead Apple Inc. He’s helped the company continue to grow while embracing his LGBTQ identity publicly with courage and integrity.
Cook rose through the ranks of tech with a quiet strength, becoming CEO of Apple in 2011 following Steve Jobs' legendary tenure. Under Cook’s leadership, Apple has flourished, bringing us innovations like the Apple Watch, AirPods, and a renewed commitment to privacy and environmental responsibility.
What truly makes Tim Cook remarkable is his openness as one of the most influential openly gay leaders in business today.
In 2014, he publicly came out, stating, “I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.”
Cook’s courage has encouraged countless others to live authentically.
He consistently uses his platform to advocate for LGBTQ rights, speaking out against discrimination and promoting diversity and inclusion within the workplace and beyond.